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Pneumonia is caused by a viral or bacterial infection that fills your lungs with mucus. This lowers the oxygen level in your blood and may cause difficulty breathing, fever, cough and fatigue.
The government recently outlined the best medical practices for treating pneumonia. These practices have been proven to provide the best results for the most patients. The below percentages includes only patients whose history and condition indicate the treatment is appropriate. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about your treatment.
| Pneumonia |
St. Luke's Hospital |
Missouri Average |
National Average |
| Oxygenation Assessment |
100% |
99% |
99% |
| Blood Culture Performed in the Emergency Department Prior to First Hospital Dose of Antibiotics |
94% |
92% |
90% |
| Initial Antibiotic Within 4 Hours After Arrival |
83% |
81% |
80% |
| Most Appropriate Initial Antibiotic |
84% |
84% |
83% |
| Assessed and Given Pneumococcal Vaccination |
96% |
72% |
71% |
| Smoking Cessation Advice/Counseling |
88% |
85% |
81% |
| Assessed and Given Influenza Vaccination |
97%* |
70%* |
70%* |
|
*Data from January-February 2006 discharges
Oxygenation Assessment: Pneumonia can lower the oxygen in your blood because the air spaces in your lungs fill with mucus, and the oxygen you breathe does not get into your bloodstream. It is important that the amount of oxygen in your blood be measured within 24 hours of arriving at the hospital to see if you need oxygen therapy.
Blood Culture Performed in the Emergency Department Prior to First Hospital Dose of Antibiotics: Different types of bacteria can cause pneumonia. A blood culture is a test that can help your health care provider identify which bacteria may have caused your pneumonia, and which antibiotic should be prescribed. A blood culture is not always needed, but for patients who are first seen in the hospital emergency department, it is important for the accuracy of the test that blood culture be conducted before any antibiotics are started. It is also important to start antibiotics as soon as possible.
Initial Antibiotic Within Four Hours After Arrival: Antibiotics are used to treat pneumonia caused by bacteria. Early treatment with antibiotics can cure bacterial pneumonia and reduce the possibility of complications.
Most Appropriate Initial Antibiotic: Pneumonia is a lung infection that is usually caused by bacteria or a virus. If pneumonia is caused by bacteria, hospitals will treat the infection with antibiotics. Hospitals should choose the antibiotics that best treat the infection type for each pneumonia patient.
Assessed and Given Pneumococcal Vaccination: The pneumococcal vaccine may help prevent, or lower the risk of complications of pneumonia caused by bacteria. It may also help prevent future infections. Patients with pneumonia should be asked if they have been vaccinated recently for pneumonia and, if not, should be given the vaccine.
Smoking Cessation Advice/Counseling: Smoking damages your lungs and can make it hard to breathe. Smoking increases your chances of getting pneumonia or other chronic lung diseases like emphysema and bronchitis. Smoking is also linked to lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke, and can cause premature death. It is important for you to get information to help you quit smoking before you leave the hospital.
Assessed and Given Influenza Vaccination: Flu shots reduce the risk of influenza, a serious and sometimes deadly lung infection that can spread quickly in a community or facility. Hospitals should check to make sure that pneumonia patients, particularly those who are age 50 or older, get a flu shot during flu season to protect them from another lung infection and to help prevent the spread of influenza.
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